On November 27, 2012, the then-named Florence Freedom announced that UC Health, the healthcare system of the University of Cincinnati, had signed a 10-year naming rights deal, giving the ballpark its UC Health Stadium name.[2] In May 2021, it was reported that the team was looking for a new naming rights partner after UC Health dropped its sponsorship, and that the team would be using the name Y'alls Ballpark for their home field.[3][4] In March 2022, the Y'alls announced that Thomas More University had acquired the naming rights, and that the university's baseball team would play at Thomas More Stadium starting in 2023.[5][6]
History
2004 ownership scandal
In July 2004, shortly after the opening of Champion Window Field, contractors began filing liens against the Florence Freedom, accusing the team of not paying for work done on the stadium. Eventually, 33 liens totaling $4.7 million were filed. In August, Fifth Third Bank sued team part-owner Chuck Hildebrant for failing to repay multiple loans taken out to finance the stadium construction. As part of the lawsuit, it was revealed that Hildebrant had used 204 acres (0.83km2) of land that he did not own as collateral for the loans, and that he had given the bank a forged document as proof of ownership.[7] Hildebrant was later the subject of a federal white collar crime investigation and sentenced to prison in October 2005.[8] The team was sold in November 2004 to a new ownership group led by Clint Brown, who was not associated with Hildebrant's ownership group.[9]
↑Peale, Cliff (November 3, 2004). "Florence Freedom has a deal". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 1, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
